Who we are

Background

In June 2012, and with the flow of Syrian refugees into Lebanon, more than 100 humanitarian committees and organizations joined efforts under the umbrella of the Union of Relief and Development Associations (URDA) in order to coordinate charity work in Lebanon, especially the support of Syrian refugees fleeing the plight of war and destruction in their home country.

Relief committees have worked across different Lebanese areas starting from Akkar, Tripoli, Beqaa area reaching Beirut, Saida and Iqlim al-Kharroub. The work sought to execute different medical, educational, and livelihood related projects aimed at restoring happiness for the displaced. On 19/9/2013, the Union obtained an official license,the first of its kind, as a union for relief and charity associations in Lebanon under License 1685 issued by the Ministry of Interior in Lebanon.

Mission and Vision

URDA seeks to be an influential reference for humanitarian work in Lebanon and the leading umbrella for model organizations with sustainable capabilities working professionally to develop the society under international standards.

Objectives

General Objective

1. Establishment of relief and development projects that aim at serving the community in Lebanon.

2. Finding a stable living environment for the people in need in Lebanon.

3. Empowerment of needy people in Lebanon and turning them to form a positive contributor in the society.

4. Building the capacities of the civil society institutions in Lebanon.

5. Broadening the coordination between humanitarian institutions as well as working towards finding an integrated system for the charitable work in Lebanon.

6. Transferring the status of the refugees and the needy people in Lebanon to the Lebanese civil and official parties and to the international institutions plus helping those refugees and building bridges between them and the host society.

7. Defending human rights and human dignity and making the voice of the oppressed heard in accordance with the international laws.

8. Protecting women’s and children’s rights in Lebanon.

9. Maintaining the social values and heritage and spreading environmental awareness.

Strategic Objective

1. Working towards having the Union as the outstanding cover and the essential reference for the humanitarian work in Lebanon.

2. Working towards achieving a strategic partnership with many Arab and international organizations.

3. Achieving a high level of global proficiency in the charitable work in Lebanon according to international regulations and standards of the humanitarian work.

4. Establishment of civil society organizations that possess sustainable and high proficiency capacities, which helps in human care, in order to recover the society.

5. Having the Union and the members of the Union as the leading local party that gain the confidence of the international and local donors in regard to humanitarian projects in Lebanon.